Portable communication apparatus having a game function

ABSTRACT

A portable communication apparatus having a game function can be used in a speech mode or in a dedicated game mode according to rotation of a housing. The portable communication apparatus includes a first housing extending along a longitudinal direction; second and third housings positioned on both sides of the first housing while extending along the longitudinal direction and adapted to rotate about first and second hinge axes while facing both lateral surfaces of the first housing, respectively; and a center connection arm which is positioned on an end surface of the first housing, which provides the second hinge axis in the longitudinal direction, which extends along the second hinge axis, which is received in a reception space formed in the second housing to be held, and which connects the second housing to the first housing in such a manner that the second housing can rotate from the first housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to an application entitled “PortableCommunication Apparatus Having Game Function” filed with the US PatentOffice on Mar. 9, 2004 and assigned U.S. Ser. No. 60/551,982 and anapplication entitled the same filed with Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice on Jun. 17, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-44908, the contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable communication apparatushaving a game function, and more particularly to a portablecommunication apparatus having a game function so that it can be used ina speech mode or in a dedicated game mode according to the rotation of ahousing.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, “portable communication apparatus” refers to an electronicapparatus for wireless communication. A portable communication apparatusincludes a Hand-Held Phone (HHP), a City phone (CT-2 cellular phone), adigital phone, a Personal Communication Services (PCS) phone, and aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) and may be classified into variouscategories according to appearance, such as a bar-type portablecommunication apparatus, a flip-type portable communication apparatus,and a folder-type portable communication apparatus. The bar-typecommunication apparatus has a single housing shaped like a bar. Theflip-type communication apparatus has a flip, or cover, rotatablycoupled to a bar-shaped housing by a hinge device. The folder-typecommunication apparatus has a folder connected to a single bar-shapedhousing by a hinge device in such a manner that the folder can berotated to fold on, or unfold from, the housing.

To facilitate portability, designs of such portable communicationapparatuses are not only compact, slim, and light, but also providemultimedia capability, having a wider variety of functions.

In particular, future portable communication apparatuses are expected toincorporate greater multi-functionality and be suitable for variousmultimedia or Internet environments. In addition, portable communicationapparatuses are now commonly used by people of all ages and walks oflife throughout the world, and are recognized by some people as a nearlyindispensable commodity that must be carried all the time.

Conventional portable communication apparatuses as enumerated above areusually equipped with an antenna device, a data input/output device, anda data reception/transmission device. The data input device is usuallymade up of a keypad for data input by finger pressing operation. Atouchpad or touch screen may also be used. The data output device for adisplay function generally includes an LCD.

Conventional portable communication apparatuses are also equipped with acamera lens for video communication, or to photograph a desired subject.

Recently, flip-type or folder-type portable communication apparatuseshave become more popular. The flip-type or folder-type portablecommunication apparatuses have prevailed these days, because they haveexcellent sensitivity of sound and are easy to make in a compact andslim design.

A conventional folder-type portable communication apparatus includes abody with various keys and a microphone mounted thereon, a folder havingan LCD and a speaker positioned thereon, and a hinge device formechanically connecting the body to the folder and rotating the folderupward from the body. The hinge device may have a camera module housingpositioned thereon in a predetermined position for video communication.

Conventional portable communication apparatuses, however, have a problemin that their keys on a 3×4 keypad structure, which have a small sizeand are not designed for games, are inconvenient to operate in a gamemode. In other words, key operation of conventional portablecommunication apparatuses have poor response and accuracy in a gamemode. This is because the keys of conventional portable communicationapparatuses are used for both communication and games.

Specifically, conventional portable communication apparatuses have anumber of keys arranged with a narrow spacing between them on a singlehousing in a small area. This degrades the accuracy of key operation.Since the keys are operated with one hand, furthermore, the ability toquickly press desired keys deteriorates.

Purchasing a separate game phone, however, is an economical burden tousers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve theabove-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object ofthe present invention is to provide a portable communication apparatushaving a game function so that it can be in a speech mode or in adedicated game mode according to the rotation of a housing for improvedutility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portablecommunication apparatus having a game function so that it can be in aspeech mode or in a dedicated game mode according to the rotation of ahousing for convenient key operation.

In order to accomplish these objects, there is provided a portablecommunication apparatus having a game function including a first housingextending along a longitudinal direction; second and third housingspositioned on both sides of the first housing while extending along thelongitudinal direction and adapted to rotate about first and secondhinge axes while facing both lateral surfaces of the first housing,respectively; and a center connection arm which is positioned on an endsurface of the first housing, which provides the first hinge axis in thelongitudinal direction, which extends along the first hinge axis, whichis received in a reception space formed in the second housing to beheld, and which connects the second housing to the first housing in sucha manner that the second housing can rotate from the first housing in adirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The portable communication apparatus includes a first housing, a secondhousing rotatably connected to a first side of the first housing; and athird housing rotatably connected to a second side of the first housing.The second housing and the third housing have an upper keypad and alower keypad disposed on their upper and lower surfaces, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing first, second, and third housingsof a portable communication apparatus having a game function, when usedin a speech mode, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable communication apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portable communication apparatus,when its second and third housings are rotated about first and secondhinge axes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portable communication apparatus,after its second and third housings are rotated about first and secondhinge axes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the portable communication apparatus shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a portable communication apparatus,when its second and third housings are rotated in the opposite directionabout first and second hinge axes, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a portable communication apparatusfrom below, after its second and third housings are rotated in theopposite direction about first and second hinge axes, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription of the present invention, a detailed description of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein is omitted to avoidmaking the subject matter of the present invention unclear.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a portable communication apparatus 10 having agame function includes first 20, second 30, and third 40 housings. Thefirst housing 20 is rotatably positioned between the second and thirdhousings 30 and 40. The second housing 30 is positioned adjacent to aside of the first housing 20 while extending along the longitudinaldirection thereof and is adapted to rotate about a first hinge axis A1.The third housing 40 is positioned adjacent to the other side of thefirst housing 20 while extending along the longitudinal directionthereof and is adapted to rotate about a second hinge axis A2. The firsthousing 20 has a center connection arm 21 formed on an end surfacethereof, which provides the first hinge axis A1 in the longitudinaldirection. The center connection arm 21 is received in a reception space33 formed in the second housing 30 and connects the second housing 30 tothe first housing 20 in such a manner that the second housing 30 canrotate in relation to the first housing 20 in a direction perpendicularto the longitudinal axes A1 and A2.

The operation of the portable communication apparatus having accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention, configured as above,will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portable communication apparatus 10having a game function includes first 20, second 30, and third 40housings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first housing 20 extends along the longitudinaldirection of the apparatus 10. The second and third housings 30 and 40are positioned on both sides of the first housing 20 while extendingalong the longitudinal direction and are adapted to rotate about thefirst and second hinge axes A1 and A2.

When the user wants to use the portable communication apparatus 10 in aspeech mode as shown in FIG. 1, the second housing 30 is rotated aboutthe first hinge axis A1 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection as shown in FIG. 6.

The first housing 20 has a center connection arm 21 formed on an endsurface thereof, which extends along the first hinge axis A1 as shown inFIG. 6. The center connection arm 21 allows rotation of the secondhousing 30 in relation to the first housing 20 about the second hingeaxis A2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the center connection arm 21 is rotatablyreceived in the reception space 33 formed at the center of the secondhousing 30 to rotatably attach the first housing 20 to the secondhousing 30. The second housing 30 has a first key array 31 with a numberof keys 31 a positioned on the upper surface thereof as shown in FIG. 2,which is exposed as the second housing 30 rotates. The third housing 40is rotated about the second hinge axis A2 in a direction perpendicularto the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 6. The third housing 40has a speaker device 41 positioned on the upper surface thereof as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, which is exposed as the third housing 40 rotates.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first key array 31 and the microphone device 32are positioned on the left side of the first housing 20 and the LCD 22.The speaker device 41 of the third housing 40 is positioned on the rightside of the first housing 20. The key array 31, microphone 32, LCD 22and speaker 44 are all positioned side-by-side. In this state, the usercan use the portable communication apparatus 10 in a speech mode forvoice communication.

As shown in FIG. 7, a second key array 34 made up of dedicated game keys34 a positioned on the rear surface of the second housing 30 and a thirdkey array 42 made up of dedicated game keys 42 a on the rear surface ofthe third housing 40 are arranged side by side as well.

When the user wants to use the portable communication apparatus 10 in agame mode, the second housing 30 is rotated about the first hinge axisA1 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The second key array 34, as shown in FIGS.4 and 5, is exposed as the second housing 30 rotates about the firsthinge axis A1.

The third housing 40 is rotated about the second hinge axis A2 as shownin FIG. 3. The third housing 40 has a third key array 42 made up of anumber of dedicated game keys 42 a positioned on the lower surfacethereof as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which is exposed as the third housing40 rotates about the second hinge axis A2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second key array 34 is positioned on the leftside of the first housing 20 and the large LCD 22 The third key array 42is positioned on the right side of the first housing 20. The second keyarray 34, LCD 22 and third key array 42 are positioned side-by-side.

Preferably, the second key array 34 has a four-way key and a number ofdedicated game keys 34 a as shown in FIG. 5. The user can use thededicated game keys 34 a and 42 a of the second and third key arrays 34and 42 in the game mode.

As shown in FIG. 3, the center connection arm 21 has a curved edge foreasy rotation of the second housing 30. The center connection arm 21preferably has an inner space (not shown) formed therein so that aflexible circuit (not shown) can pass through to electrically connectthe first and second housings.

As mentioned above, the portable communication apparatus having a gamefunction according to the present invention can operate in a speech modefor voice communication or in a dedicated game mode to play gamesaccording to the rotation of a housing for convenient key operation.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to apreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

For example, the present invention can be applied to all kinds ofportable communication apparatuses.

1. A portable communication apparatus having a game function,comprising: a first housing extending along a longitudinal direction;second and third housings positioned on both sides of the first housingwhile extending along the longitudinal direction and adapted to rotateabout first and second hinge axes while facing a lateral surface of thefirst housing; and a center connection arm positioned on an end surfaceof the first housing and extending along the first hinge axis, thecenter connection arm being received in a reception space formed in thesecond housing, and connecting the second housing to the first housingin such a manner that the second housing can rotate in relation to thefirst housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection.
 2. The portable communication apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe third hinge axis extends along the longitudinal direction from theother end surface of the first housing and the third housing isconnected to the other end surface of the first housing in such a mannerthat it can rotate from the first housing in a direction perpendicularto the longitudinal direction.
 3. The portable communication apparatusof claim 1, wherein the center connection arm has at least one buttonunit positioned on the upper and lower surfaces thereof.
 4. The portablecommunication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second housing has areception space formed at a center of an end surface thereof to hold thecenter connection arm.
 5. The portable communication apparatus of claim1, wherein the center connection arm has an inner space formed thereinso that a flexible circuit can pass through to electrically connect thefirst and second housings.
 6. The portable communication apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the center connection arm has a curved edge so that thesecond housing can rotate with respect to the first housing.
 7. Theportable communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second housinghas a first key array made up of a number of keys and a microphonedevice positioned on the upper surface thereof and a second key arraymade up of a number of dedicated game keys positioned on the lowersurface thereof.
 8. The portable communication apparatus of claim 1,wherein the third housing has a speaker device positioned on the uppersurface thereof and a third key array made up of a number of dedicatedgame keys positioned on the lower surface thereof.
 9. The portablecommunication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first housing has alarge LCD positioned on the upper surface thereof and a side key arraymade up of a number of keys positioned on an upper surface thereof. 10.The portable communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond housings are larger than the third housing and the second andthird housings are positioned on left and right sides of the firsthousing, respectively.
 11. The portable communication apparatus of claim7, wherein the second key array comprises a four-way key and thededicated game keys.
 12. The portable communication apparatus of claim8, wherein the third key array is made up of an array of a number ofdedicated game keys.
 13. The portable communication apparatus of claim1, wherein the first key array and the microphone device of the secondhousing are positioned on the left side of the large LCD of the firsthousing and the speaker device of the third housing is positioned on theright side thereof side by side along the longitudinal direction in aspeech mode and the second and third housings are rotated about thefirst and second hinge axes in a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction in a game mode so that the second and third keyarrays made up of dedicated game keys of the second and third housingsare positioned side by side along the longitudinal direction.
 14. Aportable communication apparatus having a game function, comprising: afirst housing extending along a longitudinal direction; a second housingcoupled to an end of the first housing to rotate about a first hingeaxis while facing a lateral surface of the first housing; and a thirdhousing coupled to the other end of the first housing to rotate about asecond hinge axis while facing the other lateral surface of the firsthousing and adapted to be coaxially positioned side by side along thelongitudinal direction of the first hinge axis.
 15. The portablecommunication apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the secondhousing has a first key array made up of a number of keys and amicrophone device positioned on the upper surface thereof and a secondkey array made up of a number of dedicated game keys positioned on thelower surface thereof.
 16. The portable communication apparatus asclaimed in claim 14, wherein the third housing has a speaker devicepositioned on the upper surface thereof and a third key array made up ofa number of dedicated game keys positioned on the lower surface thereof.17. The portable communication apparatus function as claimed in claim14, wherein the first housing has a large LCD positioned on the uppersurface thereof and a side key array made up of a number of keyspositioned on a lower surface thereof.